Leeds United have had an interesting start to the 2024/25 Championship season to say the least and it has been a mix of optimism and challenges, reflecting both the club’s ambition for Premier League promotion and the competitive nature of the league.
Leeds United’s start to the season has shown promise, it also highlights areas for improvement. If they can maintain their impressive defensive, after conceding five goals in the last 11 games, and improve their attack, they will prove they are serious contenders for promotion back to the Premier League. Fans remain hopeful, as the potential for success is clearly there; it’s just a matter of finding that consistent edge.
But if they don’t it could raise questions about the future of one of their star men whose contract is expiring soon.
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Leeds United face losing star man for free
Leeds United have two excellent defenders coming to the end of their contracts. Last week, with Junior Firpo suspended after accumulating two many yellow cards, Sam Byram stepped up and impressed.
He got an 8.3 rating on Sofascore as Leeds United’s best player in the 0-0 draw with Bristol City at Ashton Gate and he is out of contract at the end of the season but has been dealing with his career with a season by season basis, so is probably not worried about his future.
But the man who he replaced last week is more of a concern. Firpo is also out of contract and there is interest from his former club Real Betis.
It was reported by Leeds United News that the club could come calling in the January Transfer Window, but they could also look to get him for free on a pre-contract agreement that can be negotiated from January.
This, according to TeamTalk, means Leeds need to demonstrate a likelihood that they will be one of the Championship clubs making the leap to the Premier League in 2025/26 and so far they have demonstrated that so far sitting third in the league only on points difference and only five points behind Sunderland.